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Sighting Location

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Location: Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Feb 24, 2021 through Thursday Mar 11, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Thu Feb 25, 5:02 AM 3 min 28° 27° above NW 10° above NE  
Fri Feb 26, 4:16 AM 2 min 24° 24° above NNE 10° above NE  
Sat Feb 27, 5:04 AM 3 min 18° 16° above NW 10° above NNE  
Sun Feb 28, 4:18 AM 1 min 18° 18° above NNE 10° above NE  
Mon Mar 1, 5:05 AM 4 min 14° 11° above NW 10° above NNE  
Tue Mar 2, 4:20 AM 2 min 15° 15° above N 10° above NNE  
Wed Mar 3, 5:07 AM 4 min 15° 10° above NNW 10° above NE  
Thu Mar 4, 4:21 AM 2 min 14° 14° above N 10° above NE  
Fri Mar 5, 3:35 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above NNE 10° above NNE  
Fri Mar 5, 5:09 AM 5 min 19° 10° above NNW 10° above ENE  
Sat Mar 6, 4:23 AM 3 min 16° 15° above N 10° above NE  
Sun Mar 7, 3:37 AM 1 min 13° 13° above NNE 10° above NE  
Sun Mar 7, 5:10 AM 6 min 33° 10° above NW 10° above E  
Mon Mar 8, 4:25 AM 4 min 25° 19° above NNW 10° above E  
Tue Mar 9, 4:39 AM 2 min 18° 18° above NE 10° above ENE  
Tue Mar 9, 6:12 AM 7 min 82° 10° above NW 10° above ESE  
Wed Mar 10, 5:27 AM 5 min 50° 30° above NNW 10° above ESE  
Thu Mar 11, 4:41 AM 2 min 27° 27° above ENE 10° above E  
Thu Mar 11, 6:14 AM 6 min 33° 12° above WNW 10° above SSE  
2021-02-25 10:02:00.0,Thu Feb 25, 5:02 AM,3 min,28°,27° above NW,10° above NE|2021-02-26 09:16:00.0,Fri Feb 26, 4:16 AM,2 min,24°,24° above NNE,10° above NE|2021-02-27 10:04:00.0,Sat Feb 27, 5:04 AM,3 min,18°,16° above NW,10° above NNE|2021-02-28 09:18:00.0,Sun Feb 28, 4:18 AM,1 min,18°,18° above NNE,10° above NE|2021-03-01 10:05:00.0,Mon Mar 1, 5:05 AM,4 min,14°,11° above NW,10° above NNE|2021-03-02 09:20:00.0,Tue Mar 2, 4:20 AM,2 min,15°,15° above N,10° above NNE|2021-03-03 10:07:00.0,Wed Mar 3, 5:07 AM,4 min,15°,10° above NNW,10° above NE|2021-03-04 09:21:00.0,Thu Mar 4, 4:21 AM,2 min,14°,14° above N,10° above NE|2021-03-05 08:35:00.0,Fri Mar 5, 3:35 AM,< 1 min,11°,11° above NNE,10° above NNE|2021-03-05 10:09:00.0,Fri Mar 5, 5:09 AM,5 min,19°,10° above NNW,10° above ENE|2021-03-06 09:23:00.0,Sat Mar 6, 4:23 AM,3 min,16°,15° above N,10° above NE|2021-03-07 08:37:00.0,Sun Mar 7, 3:37 AM,1 min,13°,13° above NNE,10° above NE|2021-03-07 10:10:00.0,Sun Mar 7, 5:10 AM,6 min,33°,10° above NW,10° above E|2021-03-08 09:25:00.0,Mon Mar 8, 4:25 AM,4 min,25°,19° above NNW,10° above E|2021-03-09 08:39:00.0,Tue Mar 9, 4:39 AM,2 min,18°,18° above NE,10° above ENE|2021-03-09 10:12:00.0,Tue Mar 9, 6:12 AM,7 min,82°,10° above NW,10° above ESE|2021-03-10 09:27:00.0,Wed Mar 10, 5:27 AM,5 min,50°,30° above NNW,10° above ESE|2021-03-11 08:41:00.0,Thu Mar 11, 4:41 AM,2 min,27°,27° above ENE,10° above E|2021-03-11 10:14:00.0,Thu Mar 11, 6:14 AM,6 min,33°,12° above WNW,10° above SSE|

What am I looking for in the sky?

The space station looks like an airplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesn't have flashing lights or change direction. It will also be moving considerably faster than a typical airplane (airplanes generally fly at about 600 miles per hour; the space station flies at 17,500 miles per hour).

Below is a time-lapse photo of the space station moving across the sky.

The International Space Station is seen in this 30 second exposure as it flies over Elkton, VA early in the morning, Saturday, August 1, 2015. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls The International Space Station is seen in this 30 second exposure as it flies over Elkton, VA early in the morning, Saturday, August 1, 2015. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Visit the NASA Johnson Flickr Photostream

How do I Spot The Station?

What does all this sighting information mean?

Time is when the sighting opportunity will begin in your local time zone. All sightings will occur within a few hours before or after sunrise or sunset. This is the optimum viewing period as the sun reflects off the space station and contrasts against the darker sky.

Visible is the maximum time period the space station is visible before crossing back below the horizon.

Max Height is measured in degrees (also known as elevation). It represents the height of the space station from the horizon in the night sky. The horizon is at zero degrees, and directly overhead is ninety degrees. If you hold your fist at arm's length and place your fist resting on the horizon, the top will be about 10 degrees.

Appears is the location in the sky where the station will be visible first. This value, like maximum height, also is measured in degrees from the horizon. The letters represent compass directions -- N is north, WNW is west by northwest, and so on.

Disappears represents where in the night sky the International Space Station will leave your field of view.

Astronomical Horizon chart. Click the link for a detailed description of the astronomical horizon and sighting alert messages.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Page Editor: Bill Keeter NASA Official: Jacob Keaton